The Investigation Court of Palma, where the case is still under investigation. — Photo ultimahora.es

HÀ NỘI — Two Vietnamese entertainers allegedly involved in the sexual assault of a 17-year-old British girl returned to Việt Nam on Sunday, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sport and Tourism Tạ Quang Đông has confirmed.

Đông added that the two artists called him to announce their safe return.

"However, I have not received full details of the situation, and the two artists have to report to their related organisations first," said Đông.

According to a separate statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issue on Monday, the two artists have received their passports back and were allowed to leave Spain after a local attorney worked as an intermediary with the Spanish Court.

Spain's investigation into the case is still ongoing, however, according to the statement.

The two artists, allegedly composer Hồ Hoài Anh and actor Lê Hồng Đăng, were accused of rape on June 25 by a 17-year-old British girl in the Andratx region of Mallorca, Spain.

The men and the girl were staying in separate hotels in the municipality of Andratx. They met at a restaurant, where they struck up a conversation and had drinks together.

Later, the three went to the beach, where they became intimate. They then went to the men's hotel in the southwest of the island where the attack allegedly occurred.

The girl told officers that after forcing her to have sex, the two men made her shower to eliminate any evidence that could incriminate them.

The girl told her aunt what happened, who alerted the police.

The two artists were then arrested and released pending charges. Their passports were withdrawn until August 3 and the entertainers left Spain four days later.

Nguyễn Trung Hiếu, director of the Hà Nội Drama Theatre where Đăng works, said that although he was informed that Đăng returned on Sunday, he had not been in contact with the actor since.

"Đăng has been away for 1.5 months without permission and could face expulsion according to the Law on Public Employees. However we must work with him first and await confirmation from authorities as well," said Hiếu. — VNS